Reservoir coach Jason Hamilton recommits, buoyed by improvement
Re-signed Reservoir coach Jason Hamilton was thrilled by his players’ improvement during the pre-season and is confident the Mustangs are on the rise on and off the field.
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Reservoir’s pre-season improvement has coach Jason Hamilton in no doubt his club is ready to jump out of the Northern Football League cellar.
After his first campaign at the helm was wiped out by the coronavirus, Hamilton has re-signed with the Mustangs until 2022, ready for a long-term build.
After the NFNL cancelled the season, Reservoir president Luke Bryant said the year off would help the club build solid foundations off the field.
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Hamilton is just as confident Reservoir can use 2020 to set up its on-field future.
“What we did during the pre-season … from the first night to the last night, the improvement in ball skills, fitness and the enthusiasm of the group overall was fantastic,” he said.
“I don’t think they’ve had someone come in and care about them, I put a lot of time into the players on and off the field. I try to help them out as much as I can.
“This year, (the players) saw what we did before and after Christmas, so everyone knows what I expect and what level we have to be at to improve.
“That’s probably the only good thing that’s come out of this year, all the boys are up for it and some are still in training.”
It’s been a difficult five years for Reservoir, which was crippled by a player exodus after winning the 2015 Division 3 premiership and went into recess.
Since returning in 2017, the Mustangs have won just one game.
However, Hamilton is confident the club has learnt from the past and has long-term sustainability.
“I plan to be a long-term coach (at Reservoir),” he said.
“With the young talent on our list, and hopefully a couple more recruits, we’re aiming to be really competitive in 2021.
“Once you get one win we can build some confidence and make it into two, three, four wins.
“We’re being realistic but at the same time we really do want to improve the on-field side of the club.
“That’s why we’re confident we can climb up the ladder slowly but surely and be competitive in Div 3.”